Istanbul is a city unlike any other in the world. Straddling two continents and both the east and the west, the city is a blend of two cultures, two histories and two identities. Three days isn’t long to explore this exotic cultural epicenter, but we’ve come up with a guide that will leave you freshly scrubbed (Turkish bath anyone?), maybe a little hung over (what with all the Raki being poured) and even bearing a gift for your girlfriend from the Grand Bazaar. Yes, gentlemen, we’ve got you covered.

day 1: prisoner at the four seasons

After landing at Atatürk Airport, catch a cab to Sultanahmet (about 25 TL) to admire a view of the Bosphorus Strait as you wind your way along the seafront. If you’re after a hostel that’s cheap and cheerful, stay at the Mavi Guest House. If five-star luxury hotels are more your game, check in to the Four Seasons Istanbul, a former prison-turned-designer hotel. Despite the throngs of tourists in the high season, Sultanahmet is your best base for a three-day itinerary. First, wander through the imposing Blue Mosque, so named for the thousands of blue tiles that adorn its walls.

Stroll through the ancient Hippodrome where games and sport, particularly horse racing, used to take place during the Ottoman Empire. Take a tour of the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia (the Church of the Divine Wisdom) and marvel at its 30 million tiny gold mosaic tiles. Next, head underground at the Basilica Cistern, where a scene in the James Bond movie From Russia with Love was filmed. Then spend a few hours touring the Grand Bazaar and get lost in a maze of carpet, jewelry and silk shops to find the perfect pashmina for your girlfriend or backgammon set for dad.

There’s not much of a bar scene in Sultanahmet, so at night cross the Golden Horn to Taksim — the heart of Istanbul and its nightlife center — and head directly to Nevizade Sokak, a narrow side street off the Fish Bazaar lined with bars and meyhanes, traditional fish restaurants where live Turkish music and dancing will keep you entertained till the wee hours. Order a bottle of raki, the licorice-flavored liquor that you mix with water, at Neyle Meyle, and watch the evening unfurl.